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News & Views item -
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With the estimated surplus in the Federal Government's coffers of $12bn - $15bn and an opposition that looks menacing this election year even academe may be in for a morsel.
AAP reports, "University research and further measures to tackle Australia's skills shortage are likely to be the focus of new education spending in the federal budget."
The Group of Eight (Go8) in its budget submission has asked for a review of undergraduate student places and more full-fee positions, as well as a review of HECS rates and commonwealth contributions per student. "If not addressed, the demographic and student places issues ... pose significant risks to the Australian economy and society more broadly. The regulatory and funding issues ... threaten the long-term capacity of Australia's institutions to provide high quality education, research and research training."
And the Minister for Education, Science and Training, Julie Bishop, already this week announced an additional $36.2 million over four years for CSIRO research examining the challenges facing Australia's manufacturing sector; specifically to enable the creation of a new CSIRO Research Flagship aimed at addressing opportunities in niche manufacturing, primarily focussed on nanotechnology and material sciences.
Then there is the $11million over three years for "new research clusters".
Water for a Healthy Country Flagship cluster (led by Victoria University) – improving membrane design to dramatically increase the efficiency of recycling water and desalinating water;
Food Futures Flagship cluster (led by the University of Queensland) – redesigning polysaccharides (complex carbohydrates) in cereal grains for improved nutritional value and human health; and
Wealth from Oceans Flagship cluster (led by the University of Western Australia) – addressing challenges in the development of sub-sea pipelines to provide access to offshore oil and gas reserves.
With a $12-15bn budget surplus in the offing a bone of $47 million tossed applied researches way won't put too much of a dent into it, but when the dog is suffering malnutrition 0.39% ain't to be growled at.